Chris Latham Targets Future Wallabies Coaching Role After Historic MLR Success
Chris Latham has confirmed his long-term ambition to coach the Australian national rugby team, following a record-breaking season with the Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby (MLR). While Latham, 50, is currently committed to his role in the United States through the end of the 2027 MLR season, he has identified the international stage as a future career objective.
Latham’s Coaching Ambitions and Current Stance
Latham led the Chicago Hounds to an unprecedented 12-0 unbeaten season, culminating in a 35-17 championship victory over the California Legion. Despite his success, the 1999 World Cup winner confirmed he did not throw his hat in the ring for the Wallabies head coach position during the most recent recruitment cycle. The role is set to transition, with Les Kiss scheduled to take charge on a two-year contract following Joe Schmidt’s tenure, which concludes after the July Nations Championship rounds.
“I’d like to do it in future,” Latham told Planet Rugby regarding the Wallabies job. He expressed confidence in his readiness for a top-tier role, noting, “From a Super Rugby point of view I think – well, I know – I’d be very capable. I know I’d do a very good job.”
The Shift in International Rugby Structures
Latham has been a vocal critic of the canning of this year’s Rugby Championship in order that New Zealand and South Africa can go it alone and stage their own four-Test series, billed as ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’. The shift allows New Zealand and South Africa to prioritize that series, a move Latham described as “very, very disappointing.”
According to Latham, the strength of Australian rugby is intrinsically linked to its historical rivalry with New Zealand. “New Zealand’s at its strongest when Australia’s at its strongest,” he stated. He argued that while decisions are made from a monetary point of view, the loss of tradition and the impact on values and travel costs are significant concerns for the sport.
Challenges Facing the Wallabies
The Wallabies currently sit eighth in the world rankings, a position Latham characterizes as “definitely worrying” with the next World Cup cycle approaching. The team faces a challenging schedule, including an opening Nations Championship match against Ireland in Sydney, followed by fixtures against France, Italy, and Japan, before playing a home and away series against Japan and flying to Argentina for two Tests.
Latham emphasized that the lack of consistent high-pressure matches against top-tier opponents hinders development. “You want to be putting yourself under the maximum amount of pressure leading into World Cups, or any Test matches,” he said. “That’s where the pressure is. That’s where things are at stake and that’s where you learn and grow the most.”
Building a Culture: The Chicago Way
Latham’s success in Chicago has been attributed to a distinct team culture he branded “The Chicago Outfit,” after Al Capone’s infamous crime syndicate that controlled the Windy City in the 1920s. Marc Stcherbina, a former Northampton and Australia A star turned commentator, noted that the players were fully immersed in this identity from the start of the season.
“We had a saying this year – play the Chicago way,” Latham explained. “That is tough and bold with big shoulders: digging in when it’s tough.”
Key Takeaways
- Coaching Goals: Chris Latham has explicitly stated his interest in coaching the Wallabies in the future, though he remains under contract with the Chicago Hounds until the end of the 2027 MLR season.
- Historic Season: Latham led Chicago to the first unbeaten season in MLR history, finishing with a 12-0 record.
- Strategic Concerns: Latham expressed concern over the current state of Australian rugby, citing the removal of this year’s Rugby Championship as a detriment to player development.
- Coaching Philosophy: His approach in Chicago centered on a unified, high-pressure culture described as “The Chicago Outfit.”